Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Monday, June 30

 

To view a complete story, click on a headline below:

 

Energy, insurance, budget laws effective Tuesday

Power companies in Florida face limits on greenhouse gases and hurricane premiums charged by a state-backed insurer will be frozen for another year under dozens of new state laws going into effect Tuesday.

Florida Chief Financial Officer Appoints Deputy

Florida Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink named Tammy Teston as deputy chief financial officer for the state’s Department of Financial Services.

Palm Beach Capital Acquires Florida-based Workers’ Comp Provider

Palm Beach Capital of West Palm Beach, Florida, acquired SUNZ Group LLC, a workers’ compensation solutions provider.

NIA Acquires Fla. Agency

Paramus, N.J.-based insurance broker The NIA Group, LLC, said it has acquired the insurance agency Taylor Financial based in Jacksonville, Fla. Terms of the deal were not released.

Chance to get free storm inspections dwindling

Program only will serve about 18,000 more homeowners statewide

Tom and Linda Sherry’s home already has survived hurricanes Ivan and Dennis, but the Marcus Point Boulevard residents still intend to take advantage of free windstorm inspections being offered by the state.

Mississippi Judge tosses punitive damages in Katrina case

A Jackson County judge won’t let a jury consider punitive damages in the case of a Pascagoula couple who sued their insurer for unpaid Hurricane Katrina damages.

EDITORIAL:  Why disaster insurance is the responsible policy

In November, the Homeowners Defense Act passed the U.S. House 258-155. There is a Senate version of the bill, which would create a national disaster insurance program. The bill has faced resistance from, among others, Midwesterners.

ACTIONLINE:  Overcharged for flood insurance . . .

Q. My family and I moved back to Florida in 2003 after a six-year absence. We purchased a property in Miami Lakes and, like everyone else, had to secure homeowner’s and flood insurance, the latter from AAA South.

Protect family treasures during hurricane season

With hurricane season upon us we have only to recall Hurricane Katrina or the wreckage left by Ivan’s tidal surge to realize that most of us have been very lucky to have dodged the disaster that hurricanes can bring. We should not, however, let our past luck make us complacent.

How to avoid getting nailed by a roving repair person

Beware unlicensed workers who may leave your home or car in disrepair 

A man driving a van stopped Rhona Guberman as she got out of her car at the new Pembroke Gardens mall in Pembroke Pines. Leaning out the window, he pointed to the dent in the bumper of her red Audi and the scratches along the car’s side.

Hernando officials confident after hurricane drill

The mock Category 3 hurricane that slammed the outer edges of Hernando County on Friday was only a test, but an important one as emergency response officials left confident they finally have the tools to handle a disaster.

COLUMN:  Retroactive enforcement of code unfair

A government of the people, by the people and for the people is bound to serve its populace, but that concept doesn’t seem to be the case in Palm Beach.

Seminole business briefcase

New hurricane shutters

Storm Protection Innovations LLC of Sanford has received product approval for a hurricane shutter system it plans to market worldwide. The product is called Window Armour Modular.

COLUMN:  Rumors flying about the future of Wachovia; Bruce Douglas Retires from Citizens

Analysts are ganging up on Wachovia Corp., and speculation is mounting that Florida’s largest bank could be for sale.

Area State House Races Heat Up

Incumbents in two state House districts representing Central and South Tampa face opposition in their campaigns for reelection.

Hurricane Center director happy as ‘weather geek’

When hurricanes and tropical storms threaten the U.S., a self-described “weather geek” will let the nation what the dangers are.

Health Dept. shutting down clinics; layoffs loom

As the Volusia County Health Department shuts down its primary care clinic in Orange City in the coming days, 25 of the agency’s employees have been told they could be laid off July 10.

There Will Be Fewer Rangers on The Road

Driving down Interstate 275, Luis Luna is listing all the stuff he’s pulled off this highway.

Progress, FPL seek to pass higher fuel costs on to consumers

Feeling the pain of $4-a-gallon gas at the pump?

Water district gives preliminary OK to U.S. Sugar deal

The blockbuster plan for the state of Florida to acquire U.S. Sugar won preliminary approval from the South Florida Water Management District today, opening the way for negotiations aimed at closing the deal by November.

COLUMN:  Group Says Crist Backtracks on Oil

No surprise that a poll conducted by the Associated Industries of Florida, a group supporting oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico, shows Floridians share that goal. But unlike most polls conducted by groups seeking a poll-backed agenda, the question seems to be fairly straight.

Chinese not drilling near Florida coasts despite rumors

Bogus claims China is drilling for oil off the Florida coast continue to circulate almost three weeks after a senator representing the state derided the claims as “akin to urban legends.”

Texas is all for drilling off coast of Florida

Melissa Parrot drains her Coors Light, slips out of her T-shirt and hops off the tailgate of her Texas Edition Ford F-150.

Could wind power work in Florida?

In the push to stop global warming, many experts are hearing a mighty rushing wind.

Texas:  Bill requiring flood insurance would affect many here

Pending federal legislation requiring homeowners protected by levees and dams to buy flood insurance is being challenged by local and national leaders who say the proposal would force thousands and perhaps millions of people to buy insurance.

Governor Paterson Says State Might Resurrect N.Y. Insurance Exchange

New York Gov. David Paterson last week confirmed that his state is seriously considering resurrection of the long-defunct New York Insurance Exchange as part of its financial services modernization campaign.

Capitol Hill To Work On Insurance Issues In July

Next month will see a spate of congressional focus on insurance regulatory issues as both houses plan some action before departing on an extended summer vacation and returning for a brief fall session before adjourning to campaign.

Insurance industry’s feeling the U.S. economy’s pinch

Insurers aren’t immune from the financial troubles plaguing the rest of the U.S. economy.

Free service might help home buyers

Settlement requires free credit monitoring for millions of consumers.

If you’re thinking about buying a home or refinancing — even if you’ve got excellent credit — you may want to avail yourself of a forthcoming free service that could help you get a better mortgage rate.

COMMENTARY:  Condo Insurance Requirements Not Cookie-Cutter

“Given the great interdependence of the unit owners in the stacked unit condominium situation, mandating property insurance for the entire building is the preferable approach.” This one explanatory sentence from the Uniform Condominium Act of 1980 forever transformed condominium association insurance programs.

European insurers shift focus to protect profits

Life operations gain notice as property, casualty prices drop

With prices for property and casualty insurance expected to continue falling this year, some European insurers and reinsurers are boosting their life-insurance operations and could pursue takeovers to protect premium growth and profits.

Three States Pass Fraud Bills to Close ‘Fair’ Legislative Session

Fraud measures just passed in New York, Louisiana and Maryland closed out a legislative session that was called “fair, at best” by a Coalition Against Insurance Fraud representative.

Convicted attorney Scruggs asks to serve time in Pensacola

Richard Dickie Scruggs, who became one of the wealthiest civil lawsuit attorneys in the country by taking on tobacco, asbestos and insurance companies, was sentenced Friday to five years in prison for conspiring to bribe a judge.

To unsubscribe from this newsletter, please send an e-mail to ccochran@cftlaw.com